Panaji, August 2026: Goa is set to witness a unique meeting of musical traditions this September as acclaimed Portuguese guitarist Marta Pereira da Costa teams up with celebrated Goan sitarist Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan for a special concert at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
Organised by Communicare Trust in association with the Consulate General of Portugal in Goa and Camões – Centro de Língua Portuguesa, the concert will be held on September 24. The event will bring together Portugal’s iconic fado tradition and Indian classical music in a special cross-cultural musical collaboration.
Marta Pereira da Costa made history by becoming the first woman to play the Portuguese guitar professionally in fado, breaking a centuries-old male-dominated tradition. Her work has earned international recognition, including the Instrumentalist Award from the Amália Rodrigues Foundation and the Best Instrumental Award at the 2025 IPMA Awards.
She has also released an album with Warner Music Portugal and performed at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. Her NPR Tiny Desk appearance has crossed more than a million views.
For her Goa performance, Costa will be accompanied by João José Pita Junior on seven-string guitar and Carlos Miguel Antunes on percussion. The ensemble will present a contemporary interpretation of Portuguese fado, incorporating influences from jazz, Cape Verdean morna, Brazilian choro and world music.
The evening will also feature an opening performance by Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan, a sixth-generation exponent of the Dharwad Gharana and one of Goa’s respected names in Indian classical music.
The highlight of the evening will be a joint performance by Marta Pereira da Costa and Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan, bringing Portuguese fado and Indian classical strings together on one stage.
Music with a purpose
The concert is also a fundraiser for Communicare Trust, with proceeds supporting five ongoing community initiatives.
These include Stories from Here and Beyond IV, an India-Portugal-Brazil children’s storytelling collaboration based on the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goal Life on Land; Kalakriti II, a creative book-making initiative with children from Bookworm libraries; and From Seed to Grain, which provides farming and livelihood skills to differently abled youngsters at Little Angels Home.
Funds will also support the Little Angels Bakery, a community-oriented livelihood project being developed in Chorao, and Cantaram for the Community, an initiative aimed at reconnecting Goan youth with classic Konkani music and its pioneers.
Communicare Trust founder Nalini Elvino de Sousa described the concert as a bridge between cultures.
“Music has always been a bridge between people, and this concert is exactly that — two extraordinary traditions, Portuguese fado and Indian classical strings, coming together on one stage in Goa,” she said.
The fundraiser will also be preceded by a series of outreach programmes connecting Goa’s creative community with Portuguese culture. These include interactions with Portuguese language students, a poetry event at Camões – Centro de Língua Portuguesa in Panaji and a mime competition at Carpe Diem, Majorda.
The September 24 concert is supported by the Consulate General of Portugal, Camões – Centro de Língua Portuguesa, the Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Goa, and several other partners.
Donation passes will be available at Furtados Music and Pedro Fernandes & Co. outlets in Panaji and Margao, as well as online.
The evening promises not only an extraordinary musical collaboration but also an opportunity for audiences to contribute to initiatives supporting education, creativity, sustainable livelihoods and community development in Goa.
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